Method of forming stereotypes



April 20 1926. 1.581,290 I J. ROSENBERG METHOD OF FORMIG STEREOTYPES Filed Feb. 5. 1923 2 Shets-Shet 1 VIII/I li" .1204222442 028 a E Vi? Amal 20 1926.

` 1,581,290 J. ROSENBERG METHOD OF FORMING STEREOTYPES Filed Feb, 5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. ZO, ,1926. i

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

J'AMES nosnnnnm, or CLEVELAND, orno.

METKQD OF FOB HING STEBEOTYPES.

Application filed February 5, 1923. serial Ne. 616341.

To 'all whom it may concem;

Be it known that I, JAMES ROSENBERG, a .citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the County of Cuyahoga and State' of Ohio, have invented a certain 'new and useful Improvement in a Method of Formi-ng Stereotypes, of which the'following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The present inveution is concerned with the typographical arts and particularly with the art of forming stereotypes; electroplatcs and printing plates. Forming stereotypes and electrotypes has heretofore involved the use of processes which include various steps necessitating considerable skill and labor. In forming stereotypes, for instance, an impression is usually made upon a wet matrix by an original set-up or form com rising' type, zine etchings or electroplates, t ie matrix first being impressedwith the form and .then dried. The drying of the matrix results in various distortions of the impressions due to'the shrinkage of the matrix, -there being such an amount of 'shrinkage that the stereotypes molded therefrom require considerable finishing. In' making electroplates, the original form is ressed ipon a special wax or lead mat to orm a case The impressed face of the lead is then suitably treated whereby copper ma, be electrolytically deposited thereon and r subscquently removed in the form of a. shell,

This process involves the use of an extremely heavy press. When wax is used to form' the case, the impressed surfaces of the wax are suitably 'created to receive an electrolytie deposit. The wax is then melted away from 'the electrolytic deposit, and it then compris es a Copper molding shell; `This shell is cleaned, treated with a fluxing material or chemical and then *backed with solder'ing foil and finally reinforced with lead or type metal-b ouring the metal, 'when in a. molten con iton over the soldering foiL T-here are many intermediate'operations before the final' operation of casting the renforeing metal on the back of the copper shell YVlerefore,the general object of the present invention contemplates the provision of a process for forming stereotypes and electrotypes in a. simplified manner by directly lnpressin a sheet of cop )er or other suitable meta lic foil upon tie original form, Whereby the nctallic shells so formed may be used in molding the stereotype and become a part of the stereotype o r may be used to form so-called electrotypes, thereby eliminating the use of the electrolytie method of lepostin copper on a case to form a shell. A. furt ier object of the present inveution s the provision of a method-and apparatus for sinultaneously forming a Wet matrix which may be used for casting stereotype and a metallic shell which may be either used as a-molding medium in producing a so-called electrotype or which may be used as a metallie matrix.

A further object of the present invention is the prvision of a method and apparatus 'for produeing a, moldng form suitable for casting stereotypes having relatively hard printing surfaces or for forming electroplate shells while simultaneously forming a soldering foil therefor, whereby uniform adherence between all of the hacking surfaees of the metallic form or mold to t-he hackingup metal may be obtained.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description of my process and of the apparatus shown in-the aecompanying drawings, and the essential features will be summarized in the claims,

In the drawings,Fig. 1 is a perspectve View of a press supporting an original formand showing the relation of the metallic foils and matrix when being 'positioned on the form; .Fig.-2 is an enlarged cross sectio'al 'view taken through the original form;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken through an electroplate mold showing a casting n 'the mold; 4 is a similar view showing a steneotype castingjnva'nold; Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectonal view of a' portion of a. so-called electrotype made by my process;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of a stereotype made *by 'my process; Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view representing an improved apparatus for forming an electrotype or a stereotype having reinforced printing surfaces; Fig. 8 is a cross sectional View taken through a press and showing an improved means for carrying out the various steps of my process when wax or similar plastic material is used as a mat; Fig. 9 is a cross scctional View taken through a flexible stereotype made in accordance with my process.

In carrying out the objects of ny invention, I contemplate the use of thin sheets ot' solder foil and thin sheets of netal having durable characteristics such as copper and' aluminum-f'oils. In setting forth the vari ous steps of my process in producing stereotypes and so-called cleetrotypes in a very economical manner, I will first discuss the nanner in which I obtain a wet matrix which, w hen dried, may be used to form the usual stereotype and by the same operation obtain a copper shell from the original setup or form-without resorting to the use of an electrolytic process.

A convenient means for carrying out the steps in the particular nanner above set forth, is illustrated in l `i g. 1. wherein' I show a top press member lt) rigidly mounted on columns 11 and a movable form supporting press nember 12 which may be brought into juxtaposition with thetop member 10 by any convenient 'means such as a hydraulic ram 13. The usual form 14 comprising set up type, etchings etc., may be placed upon the movable press member 12. A sheet of solder foil 15 may then be placed over the the soldering foil 15.

impression surfaces ot' the form'. I then placea copper foil 16' in superposed relation to the soldered' foil 15, the face of the copper foil Contacting with the solder foil having previouslv been treated with a suitable fluxingmedium. I then back up the copper 'ol with a plastic nedium, such as a Wet paper mat 17. The member 12 nay then be brought into compressed relation with the 'top press member 10 by operation of the ram 13, thus causing the paper mat 17 to compress the solder foil and Copper foil into contact with the. surtaccs of .the

. original form 14.

As shown in Fig. 2, the result of this com-. pressing action is to form a stereotype ma-- trix having a flat upper surface and 'an impressioned under mo-lding surface, the impressions in this molding surface inversely corresponding to the printing faces 'ot the form. The formed copper shell 16 is firmly -pressed throughout all its under surfaces into contact with all of the upper surt'aces ot' If the usual stereotype is desired, the foil 17 may be dried and then be suitably supported in a mold such for nstance, as 'is shown in cross section in Fig. 4. The imp resioned ;tace'of the matrix is exposed to the nold cavity and the back thereot is supported by the mold member 21 which may also clamp the edges of the mat to the mold member 18. A cast 19 may be made by pouring type metal in the gate 20 at the top ot 707 the mold.

It' it is desired to obtain a so-called electrotype, the formcd Coppershell 16' may be placed in the nold (see Fig. 3) with the soldering foil 15 disposed toward the mold cavity; the pouring ot' type netal 22 through the gate 23 will thus cause the type metal to become soldered to the copper shell. I thus obtain a wet matrix nold and a cop-7 per mold whereby a stereotype-casting and a .so-called electrotype may be obtained from one inipression set up. I have found that by first impressing the paper mat 17 upon the forn, then separating the form from the mold and subsequently positioning the solder and copper sheets between the matrix and by again bringing the press members together without disturbing the alignment ot the first mati-ii; impression with the set up, a more clearly defined molding surface is obtained on the matrix and the drawing action of the foils in conforming to the irregularities of the original form is much more satistacto'y than when the three elments, namely the soldering foil, copper foil and matrix are superposed upon a form in one pressing operation. The" shell may be used only as a matrix by omitting the use of the solder foil.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I show enlarged sections through an electrotype and a stereotype which are produced by the foregoing described process. It may be noted that while the printing surfaces of the stereotype and electrotype are substantial-` ly identical as to dimensions, these printing surfaces will be slightly increased over the corresponding surtaces of the original form. This is due to the slight variations caused by interposing the thin foils between theprinting sui-faces of the original form which are transferred to the matrix through two thicknesses of f oil. I find, ho-wever, that this variation is slight and does not interfere with the eflicient application of my process in the making of electrotype and stereotype in the manner described. It a standard type face is desired, hon-'ever', a 'set of original type having printing surfaces which are less than standard -may, be used in obtaining shells having standard printing 'sur'faces The idea of forming a shell directly from the original form without resorting to the use of an elect'olytic process opens up many possibilities by way of simplifying the complete process of formingstereotype with relatively hard printing surfaces, as well as forming electroplates. 'As an instance of this, if it is desired toobt-ain a stereotype with the printing surfaces tlw'eof coated interposed therebetween.

with a comparatively hard material, such as was heretofore obtained by electrolytically depositing nickel, steel and'other hard metals on the printing surface of the cast electro- Important advantages of this method are that a stereotype plate having a lardened printing surface may be obtained by the same Operations which produce the matrix, which in this case is a metallic shell, and the usual metal casting Operations.

An'additional advanta e is that the shell when once formed ;from the original may be immediately placed in the mold, thereby eliminating the time consumirg operation of drying the wet paper matrix, as well as eliminating the irregularities due to the shrinking of such 'a paper matrix when being dried. p

If it is desired to take imp'ressions from half tones', zine etchings, etc.,.an apparatus i such as I illustra-te in Fig. 8 may be used;

This apparatus is adaptable to my process when I use wax or other plastic material as a cushioning means. The usual case .forming waX such as resinol mineral composition may be'used in place of a wet mat. *As shown in Fig. 8, a metallic foil is placed upon a form 26, there being a solder foil 25 Theform 26 may be supported upon a press member 27. The press member 27 is provided With side walls 28 which ,extendupwardly above the foil and 'are so formed as to have a close fitting rela'tion with side surfaces 29 of a wax or cushion carrying press member 30, the.

pressed member 30 in this case being moV: able; The cushioning means 31, preferably a sheet of the'wax referred to, 'may be placed upon the undersurfaceof the pressmember 30. When the press member 30 moves downwardly toward the' press member 27, the v'wgax 31 is pressed upon the foil and causes the foil to conform to the printing surfa'ces of the-original set-up 26. The side walls 28 prevent the wax 'from flowing from between the p'ressed members. ,The top'surface of the metal foil 25 may be coated with any suitable lubricant to'further the flowing ac- V tion of the metal and the wax as the wax is pressed upon the form and to facilitate the separating of the foil from the wax when the mold' members are parted. `It will thus .be seen that the wax 31 need not be removed from the pressed member 30 after each o eration but may be used for subsequent s ell forming Operations.

If it is desired to transfer half tones to the foil, a fiat surfacing member may be in 'terposed between the two pressed members and the top member `brought downwardly .thereupon,- whereby the impressioning 'surfaces of the wax may again be leveled.

My method also contemplates the production of elect-oplates without the use of a casting process.- In Fig. 7, I show an apparatus whereby I fulfill the steps in such a process. In .ths case the paper matrix may be used as a 'cushiomng-means or any plastc material may be used as a mat which has a melting point higher than that of lead o'r type'metal. The mat, solder foil and flux treated copper foil may be superposed ina press such as llustrated in Fig. 1 and in the manner described and an impression may then be taken of the original set-up or form. The three' elements may then be removed from the press without disturbing theirsuperposed relation and placed-in a roller press; a

.A roller press suitable for the above purpose may comprise a flat bedor support 34 and a metal melting roll 35. `A plate of lead or type metal 36 may be superposed upon the impressioned shell in contact with the solder foil; the thickness of the plate 36 combined with the matrix and foil being greater than the clearance space between the supporting bed 34 and the roller 35.

4 be maintained greater than that of the melting point of the plate of metal 36. It will be seen that movement of the bed .34 will cause the roller 35 to have a compressing action upon the plate 36, as well as a melting action thereon. The metal plate will be melted an d. the under surface thereof caused to conform to theirregular surfaces of the 'shell and become united therewith. The` matrix may then be removed from the plate and a so-ca-lled electrotype is thus obtained. .I have also found that' it is pr'actical to position the formed shell upon a spring metal back bythe use of a suitable flexible cementwhich will fill all of the irregular spaces between the hacking metal and the under surface of the shell. I n Fig. 9, I show a spring metal back 40 upon which a shell 41 is maintained by a hard cement 42. The 'cement serves to fill all of the spaces and support the elevated printing surfaces of the shell while permitting the hacking plate to be sufficiently flexible to conform to a printing roll. 4 a

From the foregoing description, it may be readily understood-that my process of formingelectrotype and stereotype has a number of advantages in that I eliminate many operatons which have been heretofore thought necessary. In producing the latter, for instance, the diflicultyof overcoming Variations due to shrnkage of a wet paper matrix are eliminated by the present process. Furthermore, it is possible to readily obtain a hard surfaced stereotype without resorting to the expensive operation of depositing aluminum, steel, nickel or other metal upon the cast type electrolytically. In producing electrotype by my process, I eliminate the exacting and tedious Operations of case making which involves the steps of shaving, graphiting, black leading, electrical deposition of metal, melting wax from electrolytically formed shell, cleaning the shell, etc. Furthermore, my process is readily adaptable to the use of zine foil and aluminum foil, as well as copper foil, and likewise, the step of forming the shell from the foil, simultaneously forms the solder foil in a more perfect manner than has heretofore been practical. It will be readily understood that white face printing may also be obtai'ned by producing my shells from reverse original forms.

I claim .l. The method of producing printing platcs which includes the step of forning metal sliells by hacking a sheet of metallic foil and a superposed sheet of solder foil with a 'cushioning means and pressing'the foil into intimate contact with the surfaces 1 whereby a metallic shell and a wetmolding matrix are formed.

3. The method of producing printing plates which includes the step of forming Copper' shells by hacking a sheet of thin copper in a thin sheet of solder foil with a paper mat and pressing the thin Copper into intimate contact with the surfaces of an original form.

4. The e method of producing printing plates which includes the step of making up an original form, i lacing a sheet of solder foil over the form, treating a thin metallic sheet with a fluxing solution, placing said treated sheet in superposed relation to the solder foil with the flux treated surface thereof in contact with the solder foil, placing a 'cushioning means over the metallic sheet, and pressing said ,solder foil` and metallic foil into intimate contact with' the printing su-facesof the original form.

5. The' method of produ cing printing plates which includes the step of making up an original form, treating the printing surfaces thereof with a lubricant, placing a sheet of solder foil over the form, treating a thin metallic sheet with a fluxing solution, placing said sheet in superposed relation to the solder foil with the fluX treated 'surface thereof in contact with the solder foil, placing a plastic medium over the metallic sheet, and pressing said solder foil and metallic sheet into intimate contact with the print:

ing surfaces of the original form.

6. The method of forming printing plates which includes the step of placing an original form upon a press member, placing a solder foil over the form, treating a relatively thin metallic foil with a metal fiuxing medium, superposing said metallic foil over the solder foil with the flux treated surface thereof in contact with the solder foil, placing a cushioningmeans over the back of the metallic foil, and exerting pressure upon the cushioning means whereby the solder foil and copper foil are caused to conform to athe irregular printing surfaces of the original form.

7. The methodof forming printing plates which includes the step of placing an original form upon a-press member, positioning a solder foil over the form, treating a relatively thin metallic sheet with a fluxing medium, superposing said metallic sheet over the solder foil with the flux treated surface thereof in contact with the-foil, placing a plastic heat resisting means over the back of the metallic foil` exerting pressure uponjthe plastic means whereby the solder foil and copper foil are caused to conform to the irregular printing surfaces of the original form; removing the mass' from the press, placing a sheet of low melting point metal in contact with the solder side of the mass .and applying pressure andheat to said metal to unite it to the formed metallic sheet.

8. The process of forming printing plates comprising placing a metallic foil over' an original form, hacking said metallic form with plastic material, compressing said foil 'and 1plastic material on the printing surfaees 'of t e original form, whereby the foil is caused to conform to the ir'regular printing surfaces" of the original, -removing the pressed mass from the formed foil, placing a sheet of low melting point metal in contact with the formed foil and applying pressure and heat theretoto cause said last named metal to unite with the formed foil.

9. The process of forming printing `plates comprising placing an- .original form in a press, superposing a relatively thin metallic' foil over' the printing surfaces of the originalbacking said foil with a plastic material, co'mpressing the vplastic material, the foil and. the original whereby 'the foil is caused to conform to the printing surfaces of the original, and hacking the side of the shell thus formed, which was in contact with lag .said formed copperfoil.

1,531 seo u the printing surfaces of the original, withmetal.

10. The process of forming printing plates eomprising placing an original form in a ress, superposing a relatively thin metallic I oil over the printing surfaces of the original, hacking said' foilwith a heat resisting plastic material, compressing said materia foil and original whereby the foil is caused to conform to the printing surfaces of the original, and hacking the side of the shell thus fol-med which was in contact with the printing surfaces of the original with a low melting point metal by applying heat and pressure to said metal when iu the form of a sheet superposed upon the foil. a

11. The process of forming printing platcs which includes the step of making up an original, comprising printer s type, electroplate, zinc etchings and the like, placing said form in a press, super-posing a thin sheet of' solder foil over the printing surfaces of the original, treating one side of a relatively thin sheet of copper foil with aj solder fluxing' solution, placing the copper sheet with the treated surface thereof in contact with the solder foil, hacking said copper foil with a heat resisting plastic mat, compressing said solder foil, copper foil and mat to cause the solder foil and copper foil to conforn to the irregular printing surfaces of the form, releasing pressure on the three elements thus formed, reversing the elements while maintainng their superposed relation, placing a plate comprising a low melting pointmeta in contact with the solder foil and applying pressure and heat to said plate to `cause the plate to melt and unite with 12. The process of orning rinting plates which includes the step of'ma 'ng up an original printing form, placing said form in a press, superposing a thin sheet of solder foil over the printing surfaces of the original, treating one side of a thin sheet of copper' foil with a solder fluxing solution, placing the copper sheet with the treated surface thereof in contact with the solder foil, hacking said copper foil with a heat resisting plasti mat, compressingsaid solder foil, copper fol and mat to cause the solder foil and copper foil to conform to the irregular printing surfaces of the form, removing the compressed' elements, placing a sheet -of met-al in contact with the solder foil and applying heat and pressure to said, last named sheet of metal while supporting said formed copper foil upon the mat.

13. In a process of the character described, the steps which include the positioni ing of a thin metallic foil over the printing surfaces of 'ane 'original form, compressing said foil into intimate contact with the original whereby the entire -upper surfaces andlower surfaces of the ioil are caused to -conform to thej irregularities of the printing surfaces of the original, and backing the side of the metal shell thus fo-rmed which was adjacent the original, with other metal.

14. ln a process of thecharacte'r described, the steps which includethe positioning of a thin web of metal over the printing metal and a sheet of solder foil over tie printingsurfaces of 'an original form, comprcssing said web into intimate contact with the-original whereby a replica of the original form is produced on the' upper side of the web and remofiin' said formed web;

16. The processfof orning stereotype and electrotype which' comprises the makng up of an original form, `placing the form in a press, superpcsing'a "solder foil over the printing surfaccs of the ori inal form, treating a relativelyfth in meta' lic' sheet with a solder flux, positioning said sheet with the treated surface therof in" contact-with thesolder foil, placing ii-;plastic material over themetallic sheet', pressing the plastic material, the sheet anrl' the foil upon the original, wherebythe foil and sheet will conform to the printing irregulari'ties .of the original form, removng the plastic material, the foil'and sheet from the ress without (list-arbin their su erposed re ation, placing a sheet o low me 'ting point metal m contact with 'the solder side `'of the shell thus formed and' applyig he'at and pressure to the last named metallic late while supporting the shell with sad plastic material whereby the surface of the plate Contacting' with the shell will Con-form to the irregularisurfacesof an original form, compressing ties thereof and be united thereto by sa id solder.

17. The process of forming stereotype and electrotype which comprises the -making up of an orginal form, placing the form in a press, treating one side of a solder 'foil with a lubricant, superposing the solder foil over the printing surfaces of the original form,

with the lubricated surface of the foil contacting with the original, treating a relatively thin 'metallic sheet with .asolder flux,

positioning said sheet with the treated surface thereof in contact with the solder foil, placing a heat resisting plastic material over the netallic sheet, pressing the plastic material, the sheet and the foil upon the original,

whereby a replica of the orginal is formed on the upper surfaees of the' sheet and the fol end an nverted're lca is formed in the mat removing the p astc material, the foil and sheet from the press without disturbing the superposed relation thereof, 5 placng a sheet of low melting point metal in contact with the solder side of the shell thus formed and applyng'heat ahd pressure to the last named metalhc plate while supporting the shell by said plastic material whereby a surface of the plate Contacting with the shell will conform to the -regularties thereof and be united thereto by said solder.

In testimony .whereofl I hereunto affix my signature.

JAMES ROSENBERG. 

